Everyday Impact: Nursing at RTR
At Road to Responsibility (RTR), Nurses Week is an opportunity to recognize the individuals who help make everything we do possible.
Across our Residential programs and Open Roads Day Habilitation services, our nurses are a vital part of daily life. They help create an environment where individuals feel safe, understood, and empowered.
At the same time, their role is deeply hands-on. Beyond administering medications, RTR nurses support occupational, physical, and speech and language therapies while closely monitoring overall health. They are often the first to notice subtle changes, helping ensure individuals receive the support they need right away.
RTR’s Day Habilitation program, known as Open Roads, supports growth, independence, and daily skill development. In a structured, center-based environment, individuals build essential life skills, receive clinical services, and engage in meaningful daily activities tailored to their needs.
At Pond Park Open Roads in Hingham, more than thirty individuals with varying medical complexities are supported each day.
For Elizabeth Holmes, Primary LPN at Pond Park Open Roads, that connection is at the heart of her role. She oversees day-to-day medical needs while ensuring individuals are not only well, but happy and engaged throughout their day. It’s a perspective that reflects what makes nursing at RTR different. While many healthcare environments focus on illness and recovery, Beth sees her role as helping create a space centered on fun and happiness.
That balance between health and quality of life defines the nursing experience within Day Habilitation. Nurses are often the first to notice subtle changes in behavior or wellness, allowing them to respond early and support individuals before concerns escalate.
Beth also emphasizes the importance of how that support shows up each day. Creating a positive, productive experience requires patience, kindness, and a deep understanding of each individual, including recognizing triggers and knowing how to de-escalate when needed.
For Beth, the most rewarding part of her role is spending time with the individuals she supports and building those day-to-day connections.
“I was immediately attached to one specific gentleman. He is absolutely one of a kind and makes me laugh every day.”
It’s work that calls for both clinical expertise and emotional intelligence, grounded in relationships that grow over time.
Beth’s path to nursing was personal. Inspired by her grandmother, who had always wanted to become a nurse, she pursued the profession with a strong sense of purpose. Finding RTR, she says, has been one of the best decisions of her career.
During Nurses Week, we celebrate Beth and all of our nurses who bring compassion, expertise, and humanity into every interaction.
Because at RTR, nursing is not just about care.
It is about connection, trust, and making every day better for the individuals we support.
About Road to Responsibility (RTR):
Road to Responsibility (RTR) is a nonprofit organization supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Southeastern Massachusetts through residential, day, and employment programs. To learn more, visit www.roadtoresponsibility.org
Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Litchfield Photography